Erratic BG Levels! Advice please

[IZ THE LEG END]

Thought since I had a decent internet connection, I'd update this and thank everyone for their support its been much appreciated...

Firstly, the Levemir... well I'm amazed at how good this is. My blood sugars have not been so erratic and nowhere near the levels I reached before Christmas.

I'm currently taking 8 units am and 8 units pm, my fasting BG is average of 7, which I know isn't exactly perfect but its a start. I have noticed during the day I do spike anywhere up to 17/18 being my highest.

I have a good relationship with my GP, who is actually one of Hulls leading diabetic specialists. He has been in email contact with me throughout my trip in Saudi so far and I am booked in to see him on my return. I have asked if I can start Bolus/Rapid insulin for during the day to assist with the spikes I have.

Obviously he hasn't committed but is doing more research of the weekend... WRT to myself and I also have been reading Dr Bernstein's 'Diabetes Solution' on the recommendation on many of the members here...

A great book so far I'm just getting into the nitty gritty, his views and Ideas for me sound good. I hope to follow his regimen. Especially whilst home from work. Whilst travelling and working may be more difficult to adhere to all points due to climate and actual available options (Here in Saudi its rice and grilled chicken for breakfast lunch and dinner!!!).

I have noticed a massive change since starting the Levemir. I had always been a calm, relaxed person. I never noticed a change in my behaviour but others did. Since being on the Levemir and continuing the oral meds from my GP I have noticed a change and I'm back to this calm relaxed guy that was there but only some months ago. I see the change now and I see what it was doing to people around me and how this translated into my work...

I feel great, and ready to start my next challenge... my plan over the next couple of weeks is to start my second course of insulin (GP approval of course!!!) and then for me I have just drawn up a 46 week plan to build back up my running up to my first 100Km Ultra race... so then comes the next hurdle of nutrition whilst training and then for my race... I haven't picked one yet mind need to find myself a nice easy one I think!!! if there is ever a nice 100Km to run??? If anyone fancies joining me I'm happy to share the plan, I'm starting on Monday...

Thanks again for everyone's input and support its much appreciated

 

[cz_dave]

That's great, thanks for the update! And once you start bolusing, you should get rid off those double-digit BG levels.

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

Here's hoping... I love problem solving so looking forward to seeing what works for me once my training picks up along with the insulin... Sad I know!!! thanks again

 

[cz_dave]

When I was started on insulin, I was told to be very careful about sports activity - in that it can cause a drop of your BG (sometimes a rise too with anaerobic excercise but that's usually not that critical).

I was quite careful but still it shocked me how fast-acting insulin combined with even mild activity can cause BS to go low. Once my BS dropped to just 2.5 after a slow 10-minute walk after dinner. For me, the best time for sports activity is 4 hours after my bolus. For instance, right before dinner.

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

Thanks again great info...

For me it's going to be a trial and error, I've always ran with a pack for long runs so in the beginning I shall make the effort with my short runs and take a few different foods to boost my sugar see what effect each do... Start of a long road but for how much better I feel in myself it's going to be worth it

 

[LucySW]

Iz, great to hear how you are. Please, do persevere with going for the basal/bolus regime: it will make you feel even better.

On exercise, look at the Runsweet website. And most of all, just trial and error. Test, test, test again, and then you'll find out what suits you. I know how my body works now, after a few Libre sensors. That's a great idea, by the way - a fantastic learning tool.

All the best, and keep on with Dr B.,

Lucy

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

Thanks @LucySW great advice as always... Don't worry basal bolus as soon as I'm home from this trip!!! Thanks again

Izzy

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

Well, I just had my appointment with the DSN... Left completely deflated and puzzled by consultants reactions...

I was hoping after seeing the benefits of using basal insulin and seeing my fasting and general levels more under control of the DSN putting me on Bolus to help with spikes during the day post food...

The DSN was interested in my point of view and my ideas for "normalising" my BG...

She requested the consultant come and see me... Well this was interesting! He waltzed in moaning he had a clinic to run without this... Then proceeded to say I will make this short and sweet as I'm a very busy man!

You do NOT need fast acting insulin, and with your training schedule you will find you will need less and less insulin, and possibly come back off insulin... (I am training for a 100km ultra marathon) he then proceeded to ask if I was allergic to both types of metformin... Which my records clearly showed... His answer was can you just not live with the symptoms of the metformin as this would work for you?!?!? At this point I just lost the plot... I work all round the world in harsh conditions and environments... Currently Saudi Arabia which in the summer reaches upto 54 degrees, the food is limited so why would I want to take medication that when I eat I give it all up 30 minutes later he just rolled his eyes...

My Hb1ac was 44 today through strict control and diets but this doesn't show my daily struggles with spikes... So his advice is to carry on as I am with Levemir sitagliptin and gliclazide and as my training continues to pick up I will eventually not need the Levemir hahaha

There's words for idiots like this and this site won't let me write them fortunately lol... I am heading back to my GP because he listens and is the same way in thinking that with 10-15mmol spikes these are high where's as the consultant believes until I'm hitting 20 regular there's no need!!!

So it continues...

 

[LucySW]

Jesus. Well you're right and the consultant is wrong. You need simeone else. Can you ask to seitch to another hospital. Try your GP first. Just marshal your figures/graphs on the spikes and your standard deviation figures so that he can see the spikes. Say that you want to lower your mean BG and prolong your honeymoon so you can keep on low medication doses into the long term. Be clear.

How can anyone refuse you that? Don't take no for an answer.

Good luck Iz. Keep us posted.

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

Jesus. Well you're right and the consultant is wrong. You need simeone else. Can you ask to seitch to another hospital. Try your GP first. Just marshal your figures/graphs on the spikes and your standard deviation figures so that he can see the spikes. Say that you want to lower your mean BG and prolong your honeymoon so you can keep on low medication doses into the long term. Be clear.

How can anyone refuse you that? Don't take no for an answer.

Good luck Iz. Keep us posted.

Thanks @LucySW, I have contacted my GP, he's emailed back and is on my side however doesn't feel that he can contest the decision made by the consultant and wishes for me to stay under the consultants care for the time being and follow the advice given of remaining and adjusting my Levemir dose and continuum ing the Sitagliptin and Gliclazide.

So, as my GP has asked this of me I will do this for the time being as I respect his position and has done nothing else but support me so far.

I had my Hb1ac done whilst I was there and got 44mmol which equates to 7.3mmol yes this is "In the green" but with a normal BG being 5.5 then I am still averaging above by a full 2 units...

I am travelling back away to Saudi Arabia next week and was hoping this was corrected before my departure... The consultant asked when I would be back so they could review me when I'm home I told them to book end of March... What did they book?!?!? 23rd of March that's the middle third of the month I'll still be away no chance I will be getting an appointment then so I assume this saga will continue on into the future months...

Also lets see what blood results come back as... This should also be interesting as the consultant was questioning my type and whether I have diabetes?!?

 

[LucySW]

Iz, Sorry not to trawl right back to the beginning of the thread, but I can't remember if you are low carbing. It will minimise the damage if you do. And exercise - anaerobic and aerobic. Sorry if this is repetitious.

LSW

 

[IZ THE LEG END]

Iz, Sorry not to trawl right back to the beginning of the thread, but I can't remember if you are low carbing. It will minimise the damage if you do. And exercise - anaerobic and aerobic. Sorry if this is repetitious.

LSW

Hey no worries, no need to apologise.

I wasn't low carving until I believe you and Clive I believe put me on to dr Bernsteins book...

Great read by the way. I haven't followed it religiously but only from a training perspective my workload (training) is a hefty schedule so I saw struggles at the start with minimal carbs and made small adjustments especially training days and saw an improvement in both my numbers and my athletic ability. At the start I was going hypo during exercise but I seem to have figured that out.

Thanks again for the help Lucy